Information Processing Device and Method, Recording Medium, and Program

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a recording medium, and a program for allowing communicating parties at remote locations to view the same displayed content and to point to desired positions on the displayed image of the content. A user A and a user B viewing themselves and the content on a cross-faded mode may point to desired positions on the content image with their fingertips. Motion vectors of the fingertips are then detected in particular areas extracted from the image in a manner containing the detected positions. The detected motion vectors are translated into a pointer  94  for the user A and a pointer  95  for the user B, the pointers being alpha-blended with the content image. The two pointers extracted from a single image  91  are associated with the users A and B by use of different Cyber Codes (2D code)  101  attached to the fingertips of each user, for example. This invention applies illustratively to communication apparatuses for permitting communication between remote locations.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, aninformation processing method, a recording medium, and a program. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an information processingapparatus, an information processing method, a recording medium, and aprogram for reproducing the same content as that reproduced by anotherinformation processing apparatus connected via a network, in such amanner as to display, on an image of the reproduced content, pointers ofusers of the connected apparatuses pointing to desired positions on thedisplayed image.

BACKGROUND ART

There exist telephones, videophones, and videoconferencing systems whichallow people at remote locations to communicate with one another (inwhat is called remote communication). Other ways of remote communicationinclude connecting to the Internet using personal computers or likeequipment to communicate in text chat or in video chat, the latter modeinvolving video and audio exchanges.

It has also been proposed that the parties in remote communication sharevirtual spaces and the same contents (songs, moving and still pictures)between them using personal computers or the like on the Internet (e.g.,see Patent Document 1)

Meanwhile, there are techniques for allowing the communicating partiesto point to specific positions or areas on the shared content image.Illustratively, CCD (charge coupled device) cameras or like devices areused to detect the communicating parties' hand motions, and the detectedmotions are translated into movements of pointers such as cursors on thedisplay screen (e.g., see Patent Document 2)

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-271530

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 8-44490

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In typical remote communication setups, it has been difficult forcommunicating parties to share their experiences or ambient conditionsthereby to enhance the feeling of mutual understanding or of relaxation.As a result, the tone of communication has tended to be overtlybusinesslike or even awkward. Making the style of communication livelierand more empathic has thus been difficult to achieve. Illustratively,the communicating parties could not point to specific positions or areason an image of the shared content and felt frustrated at being unable tobetter express what they wanted to convey.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstancesand provides arrangements for allowing communicating parties at remotelocations to share the same content and to point to desired positions ona displayed image of the shared content.

Means for Solving the Problems

In carrying out the present invention and according to one embodimentthereof, there is provided an information processing apparatus forcommunicating with another information processing apparatus via anetwork, the information processing apparatus including: reproductionmeans configured to reproduce synchronously the same content data asthat reproduced by that another information processing apparatus; inputmeans configured to input a first user image obtained by imaging a userof the information processing apparatus; receiver means configured toreceive a second user image which is obtained by imaging a user of thatanother information processing apparatus and which is sent from thatanother information processing apparatus through the network; extractionmeans configured to extract from at least one of the first and thesecond image users a pointer representing the user pointing to a desiredposition on the image; and composite means configured to composite thepointer extracted by the extraction means onto an image of the contentdata reproduced synchronously by the reproduction means.

Preferably, the composite means may composite the pointer extracted bythe extraction means together with information for identifying the userrepresented by the pointer, onto the image of the content datareproduced synchronously by the reproduction means.

The composite means may preferably composite through alpha-blending thepointer extracted by the extraction means onto the image of the contentdata reproduced synchronously by the reproduction means.

Preferably, the information processing apparatus may further includemotion vector detection means configured to detect a motion vector fromat least one of the first and the second user images; wherein theextraction means may extract the pointer based on the motion vector.

If at least one of the first and the second user images includes aplurality of users, the extraction means may preferably extract aplurality of pointers representing the plurality of users pointing todesired positions on the image.

The extraction means may preferably associate the extracted plurality ofpointers with one of the plurality of users.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an information processing method for use with an informationprocessing apparatus communicating with another information processingapparatus through a network, the information processing method includingthe steps of: reproducing synchronously the same content data as thatreproduced by that another information processing apparatus; inputting afirst user image obtained by imaging a user of the informationprocessing apparatus; receiving a second user image which is obtained byimaging a user of that another information processing apparatus andwhich is sent from that another information processing apparatus throughthe network; extracting from at least one of the first and the seconduser images a pointer representing the user pointing to a desiredposition on the image; and compositing the pointer extracted in theextracting step onto an image of the content data reproducedsynchronously in the reproducing step.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a recording medium which records a program in a manner readableby a computer for execution on an information processing apparatuscommunicating with another information processing apparatus through anetwork, the program including the steps of: reproducing synchronouslythe same content data as that reproduced by that another informationprocessing apparatus; inputting a first user image obtained by imaging auser of the information processing apparatus; receiving a second userimage which is obtained by imaging a user of that another informationprocessing apparatus and which is sent from that another informationprocessing apparatus through the network; extracting from at least oneof the first and the second user images a pointer representing the userpointing to a desired position on the image; and compositing the pointerextracted in the extracting step onto an image of the content datareproduced synchronously in the reproducing step.

According to an even further embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided a program for use by a computer working with an informationprocessing apparatus communicating with another information processingapparatus through a network, the program causing the computer to executea procedure including the steps of: reproducing synchronously the samecontent data as that reproduced by that another information processingapparatus; inputting a first user image obtained by imaging a user ofthe information processing apparatus; receiving a second user imagewhich is obtained by imaging a user of that another informationprocessing apparatus and which is sent from that another informationprocessing apparatus through the network; extracting from at least oneof the first and the second user images a pointer representing the userpointing to a desired position on the image; and compositing the pointerextracted in the extracting step onto an image of the content datareproduced synchronously in the reproducing step.

According to the present invention, as outlined above, a pointerrepresenting a user pointing to a desired position is extracted from atleast one of a first and a second user image, one showing the user ofone information processing apparatus and the other the user of anotherinformation processing apparatus. The extracted pointer is compositeonto the image of the content being reproduced synchronously by the twoapparatuses.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

With the inventive arrangements above in use, communicating parties atremote locations can view and listen to the same content being displayedand can point to particular positions on the content image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a typical configuration of acommunication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic view giving a content-and-user imagerepresentation.

FIG. 2B is a schematic view giving another content-and-user imagerepresentation.

FIG. 2C is a schematic view giving another content-and-user imagerepresentation.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view showing a composite image of content andusers.

FIG. 3B is a schematic view showing another composite image of contentand a user.

FIG. 3C is a schematic view showing another composite image of contentand a user.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a typical structure of a communicationapparatus included in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of steps constituting a remote communicationprocess performed by the communication apparatus.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory view outlining a pointing process of a firstcase.

FIG. 6B is another explanatory view outlining the pointing process ofthe first case.

FIG. 6C is another explanatory view outlining the pointing process ofthe first case.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory view outlining a pointing process of a secondcase.

FIG. 7B is another explanatory view outlining the pointing process ofthe second case.

FIG. 7C is another explanatory view outlining the pointing process ofthe second case.

FIG. 7D is another explanatory view outlining the pointing process ofthe second case.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory view outlining a pointing process of a thirdcase.

FIG. 8B is another explanatory view outlining the pointing process ofthe third case.

FIG. 8C is another explanatory view outlining the pointing process ofthe third case.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a typical Cyber Code for identifyinga user.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of steps constituting the pointing process of thethird case.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a typical structure of ageneral-purpose personal computer.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

In the description that follows, reference numeral 1 stands for acommunication apparatus; 2 for a communication network; 3 for a contentdelivery server; 4 for an authentication server; 5 for broadcastingequipment; 6 for standard time information delivery equipment; 21 for anoutput section; 22 for a display; 23 for a speaker; 24 for an inputsection; 25 for a camera; 26 for a microphone; 27 for a sensor; 28 for acommunication section; 29 for a broadcast receiver section; 30 for acontent reproduction section; 31 for a video-audio composite section; 32for a storage section; 33 for contents; 34 for composite information; 35for an image analysis section; 36 for a mirror image creation unit; 37for a pointer detection unit; 38 for a motion vector detection unit; 39for a matching unit; 40 for a communication environment detectionsection; 41 for a standard time keeping section; 42 for an operationinput section; 43 for a control section; 44 for a session managementunit; 45 for an audio-video recording level setting unit; 46 for areproduction synchronization unit; 47 for a composite control unit; 48for a reproduction authorization unit; 49 for a recording authorizationunit; 50 for an operation information output unit; 51 for an electronicequipment control unit; 200 for a personal computer; 201 for a CPU; and211 for a recording medium.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a typical configuration of a communication system accordingto the present invention. In this communication system, a communicationapparatus 1-1 is connected to another communication apparatus 1 (i.e.,communication apparatus 1-2 in FIG. 1) via a communication network 2.The two apparatuses communicate their users' voices and imagestherebetween in videophone fashion and synchronously reproduce commoncontents (e.g., TV broadcast programs, previously downloaded movies,moving and still pictures exchanged privately between users), therebysupporting communication between the remotely located users. In thedescription that follows, the two communication apparatuses 1-1 and 1-2will be referred to generically as the communication apparatus 1 ifthere is no need to distinguish one from the other.

A plurality of users may utilize the communication apparatus 1. Forexample, the communication apparatus 1-1 in FIG. 1 is used by users Aand B and the communication apparatus 1-2 by a user X.

Illustratively, it is assumed that a common content image is given asshown in FIG. 2A, that an image of the user A picked up by thecommunication apparatus 1-1 appears as shown in FIG. 2B, and that animage of the user X picked up by the communication apparatus 1-2 isprovided as shown in FIG. 2C. Under these assumptions, a display 22(FIG. 4) of the communication apparatus 1-1 displays a content-and-usercomposite image in picture-in-picture mode as shown in FIG. 3A, incross-fade mode as shown in FIG. 3B, or in wipe mode as shown in FIG.3C.

In the picture-in-picture mode of FIG. 3A, small-sized user images aresuperposed as small-sized screens onto the content image. The positionsand sizes of the small-sized screens are discretionary. Either one ofthe two images, i.e., image of the user A or of the communicating party(user X), may be displayed instead of both images being displayedsimultaneously. As another alternative, the content image may bearranged to appear transparent through the users' small-sized screens inso-called alpha-blending mode.

On the cross-fade mode of FIG. 3B, the user image (of user A or X) isshown alpha-blended with the content image. Such cross-fade mode may beused illustratively when a user points to a particular position or areaon the content image.

On the wipe mode of FIG. 3B, a user image appears in a manner wiping thecontent image in a predetermined direction.

The mode in which to mix content and user images into a composite may bechanged as needed. It is also possible to adopt other suitable modesthan those discussed above in displaying content and user images.

The manner in which the images and sounds of contents and users aremixed into a composite is recorded as composite information 34 (FIG. 4).Illustratively, records are taken of the distinctions betweenpicture-in-picture mode, cross-fade mode, and wipe mode; of the sizesand positions of small-sized screens in picture-in-picture mode; ofdegrees of transparency in alpha-blended images with cross-fade mode ineffect; and of sound volumes in use.

Returning to FIG. 1, the communication network 2 is a wide-area datacommunication network such as the Internet. In response to requests fromthe communication apparatus 1, a content delivery server 3 deliverscontents to the communication apparatus 1 through the communicationnetwork 2. An authentication server 4 performs authentication, charging,and other processes when the user of the communication apparatus 1utilizes this communication system.

Broadcasting equipment 5 broadcasts contents such as TV programs. Eachcommunication apparatus 1 is designed to receive and reproducesynchronously the contents transmitted by the broadcasting equipment 5.Contents may be broadcast by the broadcasting equipment 5 to thecommunication apparatus 1 in either wired or wireless fashion. Suchbroadcasting may be performed alternatively using the communicationnetwork 2.

Standard time information delivery equipment 6 broadcasts standard timeinformation (e.g., Greenwich mean time, Japanese standard time) that isused to synchronize internal clocks (i.e., standard time keeping section41 in FIG. 4) of the communication apparatus 1. The standard timeinformation may be broadcast by the standard time information deliveryequipment 6 to the communication apparatus 1 in either wired or wirelessfashion. Such broadcasting may be performed alternatively using thecommunication network 2.

A typical structure of the communication apparatus 1-1 will now bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

In the communication apparatus 1-1, an output section 21 is made up ofthe display 22 and a speaker 23. The output section 21 inputs video andaudio signals from a video-audio composite section 31 and outputs theimages and sounds reflecting the input video and audio signals.

An input section 24 is constituted by a camera 25 for picking up images(moving or still pictures) of a user, by a microphone 26 for picking upthe user's voice, and by a sensor 27 for detecting ambient conditioninformation (brightness, temperature, humidity, etc.) about the user.The input section 24 turns the acquired moving images, sounds andambient information into real-time (RT) data about the user and outputsthe data to a communication section 28 and a storage section 32. Thecamera 25 is capable of measuring the distance to the object beingimaged (i.e., user). The input section 24 also outputs the acquiredimages and sounds of the user to the video-audio composite section 31.Furthermore, the input section 24 outputs the acquired images to animage analysis section 35. Illustratively, a plurality of input sections24 (two in the structure of FIG. 4) may be installed and pointed at aplurality of users (e.g., users A and B in FIG. 1).

The communication section 28 inputs the real-time data about the user Afrom the input section 24 and outputs the input data to thecommunication apparatus 1-2 of the communicating party through thecommunication network 2. The communication section 28 also receives thereal-time data about the user X from the communication apparatus 1-2 andoutputs the received data to the video-audio composite section 31,storage section 32, and image analysis section 35. The communicationsection 28 further receives contents that have been delivered from thecommunicating party's communication apparatus 1-2 or from the contentdelivery server 3 through the communication network 2 and outputs thereceived contents to a content reproduction section 30 and the storagesection 32. In addition, the communication section 28 sends contents 33held in the storage section 32 or operation information created by anoperation information output unit 50 to the communication apparatus 1-2through the communication network 2.

A broadcast receiver section 29 receives TV broadcast signals from thebroadcasting equipment 5 and outputs to the content reproduction section30 the content in the form of TV programs derived from the receivedbroadcast signals. The content reproduction section 30 reproduces:contents in the form of TV programs received by the broadcast receiversection 29; contents received by the communication section 28; andcontents retrieved from the storage section 32. The images and sounds ofthe content thus obtained are output to the video-audio compositesection 31 and image analysis section 35.

The video-audio composite section 31 alpha-blends an image of thecontent inputted from the content reproduction section 30, a user image,and an OSD (on-screen display) image into a composite and outputs theresulting video signal to the output section 21. The video-audiocomposite section 31 further composites the sound of the content fromthe content reproduction section 30 with the user's voice, and outputsthe resulting audio signal to the output section 21.

The storage section 32 stores: the real-time data about the user (e.g.,user A) supplied from the input section 24; the real-time data about thecommunicating party (e.g., user X) sent from the communication section28; the contents representative of the TV programs received by thebroadcast receiver section 29; and the contents fed from thecommunication section 28. The storage section 32 further storescomposite information 34 created by a composite control unit 47.

The image analysis section 35 analyzes content images input from thecontent reproduction section 30 as well as user images (including imagessent from the communication apparatus 1-2) in terms of brightness andluminance, and outputs the result of the analysis to the compositecontrol unit 47. A mirror image creation unit 36 of the image analysissection 35 creates mirror images of the user images (including the imagefrom the communication apparatus 1-2). A pointer detection unit 37extracts an image of a pointer on the user pointing to a particularposition with his or her wrist or fingertips from the user images(including the image from the communication apparatus 1-2), on the basisof the user's motion vector detected by a motion vector detection unit38. If the image coming from the input section 24 includes a pluralityof users, then the pointer detection unit 37 detects a plurality ofpointers in association with the users. The motion vector detection unit38 detects motion vector elements depicting the user's motions from theuser images (including the image from the communication apparatus 1-2),and identifies a starting point and a locus of each user motion. Amatching unit 39 checks to determine whether the detected motion vectorof the user matches with any one of predicted user motions, and outputsthe result of the check to a control section 43 as motion vectormatching information.

A communication environment detection section 40 monitors theenvironment of communication (i.e., communication speed, delay time,etc.) between the communication section 28 and the communicationapparatus 1-2 through the communication network 2, and outputs what isdetected to the control section 43. The standard time keeping section 41regulates the standard time it keeps based on the standard timeinformation supplied from the standard time information deliveryequipment 6, and provides the standard time to the control section 43.An operation input section 42 is illustratively composed of a remotecontroller that inputs to the control section 43 an operation signalrepresenting the user's operation.

The control section 43 controls the components of the communicationapparatus 1-1 based on the operation signal reflecting the user'soperation from the operation input section 42 and on the motion vectormatching information sent from the image analysis section 35. Thecontrol section 43 includes a session management unit 44, an audio-videorecording level setting unit 45, a reproduction synchronization unit 46,a composite control unit 47, a reproduction authorization unit 48, arecording authorization unit 49, an operation information output unit50, and an electronic equipment control unit 51. In FIG. 4, the lines ofcontrol emanating from the control section 43 and leading to thecomponents of the communication apparatus 1-1 are omitted.

The session management unit 44 controls the process in which thecommunication section 28 communicates with the communication apparatus1-2, content delivery server 3, and authentication server 4 through thecommunication network 2. In response to the user's setting operations,the audio-video recording level setting unit 45 makes settingsspecifying whether the real-time data about the user A, etc., acquiredby the input section 24 can be reproduced and/or recorded by thecommunication apparatus 1-2 of the communicating party, and how manytimes the data can be recorded if it is specified to be recordable. Thesetting information is sent from the communication section 28 to thecommunication apparatus 1-2. The reproduction synchronization unit 46controls the broadcast receiver section 29 and content reproductionsection 30 in such a manner as to ensure reproduction of the samecontent in synchronism with the communication apparatus 1-2 of thecommunicating party.

Given the result of the analysis by the image analysis section 35, thecomposite control unit 47 controls the video-audio composite section 31in a manner mixing the images and sounds of the content and users into acomposite reflecting the user settings. Based on license information orthe like attached to a given content, the reproduction authorizationunit 48 determines whether or not the content in question can bereproduced, and controls the content reproduction section 30accordingly. In keeping with the communicating party's settings or thelicense information attached to a given content, the recordingauthorization unit 49 determines whether or not the real-time data aboutthe user and/or the content can be recorded, and controls the storagesection 32 accordingly. The operation information output unit 50,responding to the user's operations (e.g., channel changes during TVbroadcast reception; start, stop, fast forward, etc., of the contentbeing reproduced), creates operation information including operationaldetails and timestamps and causes the communication section 28 to sendthe created information to the communication apparatus 1-2 of thecommunicating party. The operation information is used subsequently forsynchronized content reproduction.

The electronic equipment control unit 51 controls electronic equipment(e.g., lighting equipment, air conditioning equipment, etc., not shown)connected (in wired or wireless fashion) to the communication apparatus1-1 on the basis of the motion vector matching information input fromthe image analysis section 35.

The detailed structure of the communication apparatus 1-2 is the same asthat of the communication apparatus 1-1 depicted in FIG. 4 and thus willnot be discussed further.

Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 is the remotecommunication process carried out by the communication apparatus 1-1with regard to the communication apparatus 1-2.

The remote communication process is started when an operation isperformed on the operation input section 42 giving an instruction tostart communication with the remotely located communication apparatus1-2, and the control section 43 is given an operation signalrepresenting the instruction.

In step S1, the communication section 28 under control of the sessionmanagement unit 44 connects to the communication apparatus 1-2 throughthe communication network 2 and notifies the communicating party of thestart of a remote communication process. Given the notification, thecommunication apparatus 1-2 acknowledges the onset of the remotecommunication process and sends back accept of notification to thecommunication section 28.

In step S2, the communication section 28 under control of the controlsection 43 starts sending the real-time data about the user A, etc.,input from the input section 24, to the communication apparatus 1-2through the communication network 2. At the same time, the communicationsection 28 starts receiving the real-time data about the user X sentfrom the communication apparatus 1-2. The images and sounds included inthe transmitted real-time data about the user A, etc., as well as theimages and sounds included in the received real-time data about the userX are inputted to the video-audio composite section 31.

In step S3, the communication section 28 under control of the sessionmanagement unit 44 connects to the authentication server 4 through thecommunication network 2 and proceeds with an authentication process forcontent acquisition. Following the successful authentication process,the communication section 28 accesses to the content delivery server 3through the communication network 2 and acquires the user-designatedcontent. At this point, it is assumed, the communication apparatus 1-2carries out like processes and acquires the same content.

Step S3 may be skipped if TV broadcast contents are to be received or ifany content already stored in the storage section 32 is to be retrievedand reproduced.

In step S4, the content reproduction section 30 under control of thereproduction synchronization unit 46 starts reproducing the content insynchronism with the communication apparatus 1-2.

In step S5, the storage section 32 starts a remote communicationrecording process. More specifically, the storage section 32 startsrecording the images and sounds of the content that has started to bereproduced, images and sounds included in the transmitted real-time dataabout the user A, etc., images and sounds in the received real-time dataabout the user X, and composite information created by the compositecontrol unit 47 in a manner specifying how the images and sounds aremixed into a composite.

In step S6, the video-audio composite section 31 under control of thecomposite control unit 47 mixes into a composite the images and soundsof the reproduced content, images and sounds included in the transmittedreal-time data about the user A, etc., and images and sounds in thereceived real-time data about the user X in one of three waysillustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3C. The resulting video and audiosignals are sent from the video-audio composite section 31 to the outputsection 21. The output section 21 displays an image reflecting thesupplied video signal and outputs the sound corresponding to thesupplied audio signal. At this point, the communication of images andsounds between the users is started along with the synchronizedreproduction of the content on their apparatuses.

Also in step S6, in parallel with the processing of the video-audiocomposite section 31 and the like, the pointer detection unit 35 in theimage analysis section 35 detects a pointer(s) of the user A, etc., fromthe images included in the real-time data about the user A, etc., anddisplays the pointer(s) on the screen (i.e., pointing process).

In step S7, the control section 43 checks to determine whether the userhas performed an operation giving an instruction to end the remotecommunication process. The control section 43 waits for the operation tobe carried out. When the instruction to end the remote communicationprocess is found to be given, control is passed on to step S8.

In step S8, the communication section 28 under control of the sessionmanagement unit 44 connects to the communication apparatus 1-2 throughthe communication network 2 and notifies the communication apparatus 1-2of the end of the remote communication process. Given the notification,the communication apparatus 1-2 acknowledges the termination of theremote communication process and sends back accept of notification tothe communication section 28.

In step S9, the storage section 32 ends the communication recordingprocess. All that has been recorded so far, including the reproducedcontent, images and sounds included in the real-time data about the userA, etc., images and sounds in the received real-time data about the userX, and composite information 34, will be used when this remotecommunication process is subsequently reproduced.

The description just completed was about the remote communicationprocess carried out by the communication apparatus 1-1 with respect tothe communication apparatus 1-2.

Described below with reference to FIGS. 6A through 8C are three typicalcases in which the pointing process of step S6 is carried out during theremote communication process discussed above. In the first case, thecommunication apparatus 1-1 is operated by a single user A; in thesecond case, the communication apparatus 1-1 provided with a pluralityof input sections 24 is operated by a plurality of users A and B; and inthe third case, the communication apparatus 1-1 is operated by themultiple users A and B who are imaged by a single input section 24.

FIGS. 6A through 6C outline the first case of the pointing process. Theuser A, watching the content image and an image of himself or herself incross-fade mode (as illustrated in FIG. 3B) on the display 22, moves thefingertips as shown in FIG. 6A in a manner pointing to a desiredposition in the content image being displayed. A motion vector of theuser's motion is then detected, and an area containing the positionwhere the motion vector has been spotted is cut off from the user A'simage 71. The extracted user's image is turned into a pointer 74 of theuser A that is alpha-blended into the content image as shown in FIG. 6C.The user A's image 71 is superposed as a small-sized screen onto thecontent image.

Likewise, a motion vector of the user X is detected from the user X'simage 72 shown in FIG. 6B. A pointer 75 of the user X is extracted andalpha-blended into the content image. The user X's image 72 issuperposed as a small-sized screen onto the content image. The processin which to detect the user X's motion from the user X's image 72 and toextract the user X's pointer may be performed by the communicationapparatus 1-1, or carried out by the communication apparatus 1-2 withthe result of the process provided to the communication apparatus 1-1.

On an image 73 where the content image (not shown) and the users'pointers are blended as shown in FIG. 6C, the pointer rims aredifferentiated in color or in pattern so as to distinguish the user A'spointer 74 from the user X's pointer 75. Alternatively, the users'pointers may be distinguished from one another by painting the pointersin different colors or by displaying near each pointer a character(s), asymbol(s), a marking(s), or a thumbnail (i.e., miniature) image of theuser in question.

FIGS. 7A through 7D outline the pointing process of the second case. Inthis case, it is assumed that a plurality of input sections 24 attachedto the communication apparatus 1-1 have previously stored informationfor identifying the respectively assigned users.

The user A, watching the content image and an image of himself orherself in cross-fade mode (as illustrated in FIG. 3B) on the display22, moves the fingertips as shown in FIG. 7A in a manner pointing to adesired position in the content image being displayed. A motion vectorof the user's motion is then detected, and an area containing theposition where the motion vector has been spotted is cut off from theuser A's image 81. The extracted user's image is turned into a pointer85 that is alpha-blended into the content image as shown in FIG. 7C. Theuser A's image 81 is superposed as a small-sized screen onto the contentimage.

Likewise, a motion vector of the user B is detected from the user B'simage 82 shown in FIG. 7B. A pointer 86 of the user B is extracted andalpha-blended into the content image. The user B's image 82 issuperposed as a small-sized screen onto the content image.

Furthermore, a motion vector of the user X is detected in like mannerfrom the user X's image 83 shown in FIG. 7C. A pointer 87 of the user Xis extracted and alpha-blended into the content image. The user X'simage 83 is superposed as a small-sized screen onto the content image.The process in which to detect the user X's motion from the user X'simage 83 and to extract the user X's pointer may be performed by thecommunication apparatus 1-1, or carried out by the communicationapparatus 1-2 with the result of the process provided to thecommunication apparatus 1-1.

On an image 84 where the content image (not shown) and the users'pointers are blended as shown in FIG. 7D, a user-identifying characteris displayed near each user pointer so as to distinguish the user A'spointer 85, the user B's pointer 86, and the user X's pointer 87 fromone another. Alternatively, the users' pointers may be distinguishedfrom one another by painting the pointers or their rims in differentcolors or by displaying near each pointer a symbol(s), a marking(s), ora thumbnail image of the user in question.

FIGS. 8A through 8C outline the pointing process of the third case. Inthis case, a single input section 24 attached to the communicationapparatus 1-1 images the users A and B simultaneously. An image 91 ofthe users A and B such as one shown in FIG. 8A is then input.

The users A and B, watching the content image and an image of themselvesin cross-fade mode (as illustrated in FIG. 3B) on the display 22, movethe fingertips as shown in FIG. 8A in a manner pointing to desiredpositions in the content image being displayed. Motion vectors of theuser A's and user B's motions are then detected, and areas containingthe positions where the motion vectors have been spotted are cut offfrom the users' image 91. The extracted users' images are turned intothe user A's pointer 94 and user B's pointer 95 which are alpha-blendedinto the content image as shown in FIG. 8C. The image 91 of the users Aand B is superposed as a small-sized screen onto the content image.

The two pointers extracted from the single image 91 may be associatedrespectively with the users A and B by having each user wear a differentCyber Code (2D code) 101 on his or her fingertip, as shown in FIG. 9. Inoperation, the Cyber Code 101 is read from the image 91 and analyzed forpointer display. Alternatively, the Cyber Code 101 may be replaced by aring of a different color worn by each user.

Likewise, a motion vector of the user X is detected from the user X'simage 92 shown in FIG. 8B. A pointer 96 of the user X is extracted andalpha-blended into the content image. The user X's image 92 issuperposed as a small-sized screen onto the content image. The processin which to detect the user X's motion from the user X's image 92 and toextract the user X's pointer may be performed by the communicationapparatus 1-1, or carried out by the communication apparatus 1-2 withthe result of the process provided to the communication apparatus 1-1.

On an image 93 where the content image (not shown) and the users'pointers are blended as shown in FIG. 8C, a user-identifying thumbnailimage is displayed near each user pointer so as to distinguish the userA's pointer 94, the user B's pointer 95, and the user X's pointer 96from one another. Alternatively, the users' pointers may bedistinguished from one another by painting the pointers or their rims indifferent colors or patterns or by displaying near each pointer acharacter(s), a symbol(s), or a marking(s) for identification purposes.

Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10 is thepointing process of the third case illustrated in FIGS. 8A through 8C,i.e., a process in which the communication apparatus 1-1 displays thepointers of the users A, B and C. This pointing process is started whenthe user A or B performs an operation giving an instruction to start theprocess.

In step S21, the mirror image creation unit 36 of the communicationapparatus 1-1 creates a mirror image of the image covering the users Aand B input from the input section 24. The video-audio composite section31 alpha-blends the created mirror image and the content image into across-faded image such as one shown in FIG. 3B, and outputs theresulting image to the display 22.

At this point, the users A and B, watching the cross-faded image on thedisplay 22, may move their fingertips in a manner pointing to desiredpositions on the content image. In step S22, the camera 25 in the inputsection 21 measures distances to the objects being imaged (i.e., users Aand B) and outputs the measurements to the image analysis section 35. Instep S23, the motion vector detection unit 38 detects motion vectors ofthe users A and B from their image.

In step S24, the pointer detection unit 37 extracts the pointers (e.g.,fingertips, wrists, etc.) of the users A and B from their image based onthe distances to the users A and B measured in step S22 and on themotion vectors of the users A and B from their image obtained in stepS23. In this case, two pointers are extracted. In step S25, the pointerdetection unit 37 identifies the users corresponding to the twoextracted pointers. More specifically, the users A and B may be promptedto wear different Cyber Codes on their fingertips. The Cyber Codes arethen read from the pointer images in a manner distinguishing the user Afrom the user B.

In step S26, the video-audio composite section 31 attachesuser-identifying information (e.g., pointer rings painted in differentcolors; display of characters, markings, symbols, or thumbnail images)to the pointers of the users A and B, and alpha-blends the attachedinformation with the content image.

Steps S21 through S25 described above are also carried out on the userX's image input from the input section 24 of the communication apparatus1-2, by either the communication apparatus 1-1 or the communicationapparatus 1-2. Steps S26 is then performed on the resultingrepresentation by the communication apparatus 1-1.

Ultimately, the display 22 of the communication apparatus 1-1 displays acomposite image such as one shown in FIG. 8C. The description justcompleted was about how the pointing process is carried out.

The first case depicted in FIGS. 6A through 6C and the second caseillustrated in FIGS. 7A through 7D can be readily understood in detailfrom the above description made with reference to FIG. 10, with theexception of step S25 being skipped. Thus the first and the second caseswill not be described further.

In the foregoing description, the communication apparatus 1-2 was shownoperating as a slave to the communication apparatus 1-1 which acts as amaster. Alternatively, this master-slave relationship can be reversed orotherwise changed as needed.

In the foregoing description, one communication apparatus 1 (i.e.,communication apparatus 1-2) was shown operating as the only slave tothe communication apparatus 1-1 acting as the master. Alternatively, aplurality of communication apparatuses 1 may be arranged to operate asslaves to the communication apparatus 1-1. Such master-slave relationscan be reversed or otherwise changed as needed among the multiplecommunication apparatuses 1.

The series of steps or processes performed by the communicationapparatus 1 as described above may be executed either by hardware or bysoftware. For the software-based processing to take place, the programsconstituting the software may be either incorporated beforehand indedicated hardware of a computer for program execution or installed uponuse from a suitable recording medium into a general-purpose personalcomputer such as one shown in FIG. 11 capable of executing diversefunctions based on the installed programs.

A personal computer 200 shown in FIG. 11 incorporates a CPU (centralprocessing unit) 201. An input/output interface 205 is connected to theCPU 201 via a bus 204. The bus 204 is also connected to a ROM (read onlymemory) 202 and a RAM (random access memory) 203.

The input/output interface 205 is connected to an input section 206, anoutput section 207, a storage section 208, and a communication section209. The input section 206 is made up of a keyboard, a mouse, and/orother elements by which the user inputs operation commands. The outputsection 207 displays images and outputs sounds. The storage section 208is typically composed of a hard disc drive that holds programs and data.The communication section 209 performs communication processes through anetwork such as the Internet. The input/output interface 205 is furtherconnected to a drive 210 that writes and reads data to and from arecording medium 211 such as magnetic discs (including flexible discs),optical discs (including CD-ROM (compact disc-read only memory) and DVD(digital versatile disc)), magneto-optical discs (including MD(min-disc)), or semiconductor memories.

The programs for causing the personal computer 200 to take over theprocesses for execution by the communication apparatus 1 as describedabove are held on the recording medium 211 that is brought to thepersonal computer 200. With the programs placed into the recordingmedium 211, the programs are retrieved by the drive 210 from therecording medium 211 and installed onto the hard disc drive in thestorage section 208. The programs installed in the storage section 208are loaded into the RAM 203 for execution as instructed by the CPU 201responding to the commands entered through the input section 206 by theuser.

In this description, the steps performed on the basis of the installedprograms represent not only the processes that are to be carried out inthe depicted sequence (i.e., on a time series basis) but also processesthat may be performed parallelly or individually and notchronologically.

The programs may be executed either by a single computer or by aplurality of computers in distributed fashion. The programs may also betransferred to a remotely located computer or computers for executionthereby.

In this description, the term “system” refers to an entire configurationmade up of a plurality of components.

1. An information processing apparatus for communicating with anotherinformation processing apparatus through a network, said informationprocessing apparatus comprising: reproduction means configured toreproduce synchronously the same content data as that reproduced by saidanother information processing apparatus; input means configured toinput a first user image obtained by imaging a user of said informationprocessing apparatus; reception means configured to receive a seconduser image which is obtained by imaging a user of said anotherinformation processing apparatus and which is sent from said anotherinformation processing apparatus through said network; extraction meansconfigured to extract from at least one of said first and said seconduser images a pointer representing the user pointing to a desiredposition on the image; and composite means configured to composite thepointer extracted by said extraction means onto an image of the contentdata reproduced synchronously by said reproduction means.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidcomposite means composites said pointer extracted by said extractionmeans together with information for identifying the user represented bysaid pointer, onto said image of said content data reproducedsynchronously by said reproduction means.
 3. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said composite means compositesthrough alpha-blending said pointer extracted by said extraction meansonto said image of said content data reproduced synchronously by saidreproduction means.
 4. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising motion vector detection means configured todetect a motion vector from at least one of said first and said seconduser images; wherein said extraction means extracts said pointer basedon said motion vector.
 5. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein, if at least one of said first and said second userimages includes a plurality of users, said extraction means extracts aplurality of pointers representing said plurality of users pointing todesired positions on the image.
 6. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein said extraction means associates theextracted plurality of pointers with one of said plurality of users. 7.An information processing method for use with an information processingapparatus communicating with another information processing apparatusthrough a network, said information processing method comprising thesteps of: reproducing synchronously the same content data as thatreproduced by said another information processing apparatus; inputting afirst user image obtained by imaging a user of said informationprocessing apparatus; receiving a second user image which is obtained byimaging a user of said another information processing apparatus andwhich is sent from said another information processing apparatus throughsaid network; extracting from at least one of said first and said seconduser images a pointer representing the user pointing to a desiredposition on the image; and compositing the pointer extracted in saidextracting step onto an image of the content data reproducedsynchronously in said reproducing step.
 8. A recording medium whichrecords a program in a manner readable by a computer for execution on aninformation processing apparatus communicating with another informationprocessing apparatus through a network, said program comprising thesteps of: reproducing synchronously the same content data as thatreproduced by said another information processing apparatus; inputting afirst user image obtained by imaging a user of said informationprocessing apparatus; receiving a second user image which is obtained byimaging a user of said another information processing apparatus andwhich is sent from said another information processing apparatus throughsaid network; extracting from at least one of said first and said seconduser images a pointer representing the user pointing to a desiredposition on the image; and compositing the pointer extracted in saidextracting step onto an image of the content data reproducedsynchronously in said reproducing step.
 9. A program for use by acomputer working with an information processing apparatus communicatingwith another information processing apparatus through a network, saidprogram causing said computer to execute a procedure comprising thesteps of: reproducing synchronously the same content data as thatreproduced by said another information processing apparatus; inputting afirst user image obtained by imaging a user of said informationprocessing apparatus; receiving a second user image which is obtained byimaging a user of said another information processing apparatus andwhich is sent from said another information processing apparatus throughsaid network; extracting from at least one of said first and said seconduser images a pointer representing the user pointing to a desiredposition on the image; and compositing the pointer extracted in saidextracting step onto an image of the content data reproducedsynchronously in said reproducing step.